Reflections on Orkney and travel.

Sorry to the photography purists but I'm treating today as a diary entry even more than usual! We're on our way back aboard "The Hamnavoe" (the old name for Stromness). The picture is of the girls as we went past the Old Man of Hoy. Elizabeth spends all her time out on deck, while the boys and I are currently watching day two of the British open. Coincidentally, the leader B. Harman is the bloke we stood behind for quite a while in the practice area the other day. A tiny little left hander who's power and accuracy had us in awe. The cricket is on as well (day 3 of Manchester), but the match is becoming a bit of a thrashing. Soon it will be 2-2. Anyway, the purpose of this post today is to record a few reflections on the Orkneys as there were a few things I want to remember should we make it back, as I hope we do. Firstly, book a tour of St Magnas. I tried yesterday, but they only take small groups and were booked out at least 3 days in advance. This was the most ancient and character filled cathedral we visited all trip, and I really wanted to get further into it, which you can't do by yourself. The other thing was to set more time aside to explore the Brough of Birsay. This really needs a few hours and a careful study of the tides. You don't want to turn up, or especially try to leave, at the wrong time.... Part 2: I didn't pull the trigger on this post earlier and now have more to add. We cut inland from Thurso and took a longer route. We were lucky to find a lovely B&B and tea room at Forsinard for lunch. The terrain was much more interesting and the road very much a single lane until we rejoined the coastal road. We later had dinner in Dalwhinnie which Bec says is the highest village in Scotland. Then we forked off again, bypassing the fast road to Perth, and instead going via a beautiful village called Killin. This would be a nice place to stay next time. We're staying tonight in the country. The closest town is Blanefield near Glasgow.